Emergency signaling system for telephone toll-collecting apparatus.



SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE .YLBHICERGENGY SIGNALING [1303,073.

KOLL COLLECTING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1312.

Patented July 14.1914.

mtnesses: Inventor ymM Jbaqph J G iTQHHeZZ y jzforney.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. OOONNELL, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AN'D TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW 203K.

EMERGENCY SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR TELEPHONE TOLL-COLLEOTI1TG APPARATUS.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented'July 14, 1914.

Application filed July 18, 1912. Serial No. 710,277.

To all whom it may concern V Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. OCoNNnnL,

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain 5 Improvements in Emer ency Signaling Systems for Telephone Toll-Collecting Apparatu of which the following is a specification.

ihe prepayment type. of coin box for telephone service, or Llg'at in which a'coin or its equivalent must I deposited before communication can be had with the central station operator, is sometimes considered undesirable in limiting the calling ability of the subscriber to such times as he may have in his possess-ion a coin or token of the'denomination or size with which the box is designed to operate. This maybe especially objectionable where it is desired to send an emergency signal, as to'fire or police departments or for a doctor; not only because of the necessity for prompt action, but also since many telephone companies furnish such service without charge.

This invention provides means whereby the subscriber whose station is equippedwith a prepayment coin box may display before the operator, through the distinctive action of the line signal, either normal service or emergency signals,'the former being operable only by the usual coin or check and the latter being at all times available.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically one form of my invention.

A substation A, having its telephone ap- .35' paratus and circuit arrapged in the customary manner, is connected'ey its line L to the central ofiice at C, where it terminates in an answering jack J with which is associated the usual line relay R, cutoff relay R and line'lamp or signal 0;

Current for the operation of the relays and signal and for talking purposes is furnished by the common battery B at the central station. I

At the substation is a prepayment toll collecting apparatus D, the coin controlled portion of which may beof any well known or desired form, as that described in the f" patent to Bullard, No.-665,874, January 15,

5Q 1901'. The collect and refund magnet 10 of' the apparatus is connected by a conductor 11 between the tip side of the line and ground, in this conductor being included normally open service contacts 13, 13, closed by the presence in the chute 14 of the proper coin or check.

In parallel with the'contacts 13 in a conductor 15 are contacts 16, 17 of anemergency device. This device may consist of a back plate 18 secured to the interior of the co coin box and having a key or button 19 projecting through said box.

Pi-voted at 20 on the back-plate is a swing ing plate 21, drawn into contact with the key and against a stop pin22 by a spiral spring 23 or its equivalent. The contacts 16 and 17 are suspended from an insulating block 24: fixed to the plate 21 by vertical spring arms 25. Contact 16 is of little weight, tending if disturbed to quickly assume its normal position. Contact 17, on the other hand, is relatively heavy, its mass being such that, being started in motion, its tendency is to continue to oscillate like a pendulum. Energy may be stored 'in this weighted contact 17 by swinging the plate 21 upon its pivot as a re'- sult of the depression of the key ,19, the release of the key allowing the plate to strike the stop pin 22, thus starting the weight in oscillation. In its travel toward contact 16, the lower portion of the weight 17 impinges against a stop pin 26 projecting from the back -plate. The supporting spring 25 yields and the upper extremity of the weighted contact 17 momentarily touches the 35 companion contact. The weight 17 then rebounds from the stop pin, separating the contacts, and this movement continues until the stored energy is exhausted.

In the use of the system for calls for which payment isto be .made, a coin is placed in the chute 14 and brings contacts 13, 13 together; whereupon current flows from the common battery B at the central station through the,winding of relay R, back contact of cutofi' relay R, the tip side of line L, conductor 11, winding of magnet 10 and contacts 13, 13 to ground. This battery current is not of suflicient strength to energize the magnet of the coin box, but the lin relay operates and at its front contact completes the circuit of the.central station battery through the line lamp 0, causing its steady illumination. The operator answers with a suitable cord circuit, actuating the 105 cutofi' relay and extinguishing the line lamp and the call proceeds in the usual manner.

If, instead of desiring a normal service call,

' tery B through magnet 10, and then on through conductor 15 and contacts 16 and 17 to ground. This results in the intermittent illumination of the line lamp, giving a signal distinctive from that produced by the toll collecting device. It is the duty of the operator upon observing this em'l ency signal to use every efiort to speedily o tain the aid needed by the subscriber. If it is found that a mistake has been made in the use of the emergency device, and the subscriber desires a connection for which a toll should be collected, he is instructed by the operator to deposit a coin as usual, the answering plug being withdrawn from the jack J to render the line lamp responsive.

I claim:

1. A circuit controlling device for giving emergency signals comprising a pivotally sup orted key-operated member yieldingly hel against movement by operation of the key, a pair of normally open contacts yieldingly supported on-said member, one of said contacts consisting of a pendulous use Y member.

said contacts consisting of: a pendulousweight having a spring support, and a key acting on said support for setting said weighted contact into vibration to rapidly make and break the circuit.

3.'A circuit controlling device for giving emergency signals comprising a key-actuated swinging contact supportin member, yielding means. normally restraming said member from movement in one direction vibratory contacts on said member one 0% which is weightd ahd has a spring "su portfand stop means in the path of's'ald weighted contact and said In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this fifteenth day of July 1912.

. JOSEPH J. I Witnesses:

. J. D. DIOKERSON,

ARTHUR D. WHEELER.

OICONNELL,

, supporting 

